[OPEN] unexpected finds

[marmoron]

Who: Keith & YOU!
What: Various shenanigans involving a space doggo
Where: All over Daybreak
When: Early June
Warnings: None expected!


A. On a mountain trail
[If anyone's feeling particularly adventurous and out exploring the mountain terrain, they may or may not come across a clearing that's smoldering a little. Thankfully the fire's under control and there's just what looks like it might've been a large exoskeleton still sending up smoke.

However, that is all besides the point. A puppy sized good boy is found tentatively approaching Keith who is holding out his hand towards it.

It's clearly some kind of Outland creature, and seeing as this one doesn't seem hostile, it means diplomatic attempts must be made. Witness the mastery. Or you know. Help.]

Bon...jour?

[For the record, Keith's French accent is atrocious.]

B. Around Dorms
[Well, now that he's decided he's keeping the doggo, it's time to very stealthily sneak him into his dorm room. And when I say "very sneakily" I mean, he's shoved the space woof under his shirt and is furtively trying to get to his room while pretending there is no wriggling lump under his shirt.

It's honestly not at all suspicious. Especially not suspicious when he just kinda goes super tense if anyone approaches and leans forward like he's got a stomachache.]

Uh, hi.

C. Marketplace
[In the afternoons after class, Keith's heading towards the marketplace on campus groun with the pupper in tow. He's spending a lot of time by, wouldn't you guess it, the weapons dealer stall, eyeing several daggers and knives with various runic inscriptions. Heavily preoccupied, he probably won't notice if someone's sly about approaching, but they'll hear him mutter under his breath:]

None of these match.

D. WILDCARD!
[Come at me!]

Comments

[onebetter]

[ .... oh no, that's... That's actually heartwarming. The idea of keeping a wolf puppy of a completely unknown species of Outlander is totally insane, but the way Keith is looking at it so gentle and contented is... nice. Unusual, and very nice. ]

Good news is, you can teach him English if so.

[ BIG BIG IF. James is really distracted by staring at Keith and the pup though. ]

[marmoron]

[The puppy gives Keith's cheek a lick which actually gets a laugh out of Keith before he puts the doggo back down.]

Hey, stop that.

[Again wiping his face with his sleeve, Keith gives James a more serious look. Pup will meanwhile be heading towards their closet to sniff around.]

You don't think that'll make things complicated if later his mom comes back for him and she only speaks French?

[KEITH WHAT IS THIS...]

[onebetter]

[ This is so stupid, James is just genuinely too endeared to not go with it for a minute. ]

... well, then we're back to me tutoring you in French. Raise a bilingual wolf.

[ ........ wait a second. He didn't mean to say it like that. ]

In the hypothetical case of bringing up a wolf in our dorm room, of course.

[marmoron]

[This is it. This is quite potentially the one thing that might compel him to actually sit down and learn the French language properly instead of mangling it on a daily basis. It's like the wolf is made out of Kryptonite or something. James can literally see Keith go from making half formulated arguments to just sputtering into a resigned silence in his own head.

Rather than address that though, he sighs and counters with:]

You really don't want the little guy around?

[onebetter]

[ Anything in the name of learning..... Don't judge James, French tutoring just sounds fun to him. So he's definitely keeping this in mind. ]

I didn't say that either. I'm just not as gung-ho as you are. Your new friend looks lovely, but we don't know what he is, how to care for him, whether or not we can keep pets in the dorms, what kind of vet would help him if necessary.....

There's a lot to consider and I'd appreciate if we answered the questions before decisions and not after.

[ Absolutely undermining James' dramatic little speech, the wolf puppy has taken to an attempt at climbing up his leg, which makes James laugh instantly. Oops. ]

[marmoron]

[Jams is saying a lot of sensible shit, but it nonetheless causes the intensity of Keith's scowling to increase with each breath.]

You're making it sound like we don't live in a place with a department specifically for the care of magical creatures.

[A department he has very recently become more acquainted with thanks to HIccup and Toothless.]

And if you don't want to keep him here, I'll just find a place to live on my own so you aren't inconvenienced.

[onebetter]

[ The point about the department is certainly well-made and James would spend a breath to acknowledge it, if he didn't have to a) push a puppy away from his face and b) listen to Keith's addition. ]

Oh.

[ His expression falls and so does silence. Puppy takes the hint of being pushed away and trots back over to Keith. ]

I see then.

[marmoron]

[The pupper heads back towards Keith and sprawls contentedly over Keith's leg. Reaching down, he brushes its long silvery fur. Judging from James' expression, it's clear he probably said something the guy didn't want to hear, but all the same it doesn't really make Keith feel apologetic.]

Are you seriously offended or something now?

[onebetter]

[ James sighs. He's not sure if 'offended' is exactly the right term here, but there's definitely a weird aftertaste to how easily Keith considers moving out. Being roommates is not a requisite to being friends, of course. So why is the idea of Keith moving out one that sits so strangely with him? He's not sure. ]

... feeling a little strong-armed, but fine. Keep him. Just make sure he doesn't eat everything in sight.

[marmoron]

[He pauses mid-petting, causing the only actual good boy in the room to look up first at Keith, then across the room at James with large, unblinking golden eyes.]

It's a wolf. Unless you're secretly rubbing bacon all over your stuff, I doubt any of it's gonna be appetizing.

[Then a little softer:]

Guess I owe you one now.

[onebetter]

[ Don't give him this look, puppy. James was here first. ]

You do. I'll remember it.

[ And to show his goodwill, he gives a fleeting smile. ]

Any idea of what to name him yet?

[marmoron]

[...Okay, that first part is ominous as all hell and Keith doesn't like it in the slightest, but he also doesn't figure James is the sort of person to cash in a favor on anything truly unpleasant. So despite his misgivings, he merely nods and resumes stroking the pupper's back.

The doggo, likewise, seemingly sensing that its position in their room has now been secured, yawns and gets to its feet and streeeeeeeeeetches before flopping back down on Keith's leg. Keith smiles, content as well.]

I'm not naming him anything/ He'll tell me when he's ready.

[onebetter]

[ It's hard to stay miffed at the puppy for more than two seconds, especially when it's playing its adorable baby charm so well.

And while the wolf is effortlessly the cutest, Keith is effortlessly a dumbass. A dumbass with a smile that is so soft and gentle that James cannot bring himself to make fun of him for it. He just stares, at the puppy, at Keith, at both of them, and wonders what has become of his life. ]

So.... until whenever that is [ never ], you're just calling him 'the wolf'?

[marmoron]

Buddy? I dunno.

[Still with no sense of self awareness, Keith considers this thoughtfully, his eyes still on the pup.]

Just seems kinda rude to call him something different than the name he chose.

[onebetter]

Keith, people give each other nicknames all the time. If he doesn't like it, he can just bite you. [ Or spontaneously develop speech and tell you, much to your delight?? ]

[marmoron]

[Instantly:]

Yeah, well I didn't like being called "emo kid." Didn't stop any of you from using it.

[onebetter]

I never used it.

[ Immediately setting the record straight. ]

And that's not the kind of nickname I meant.

[marmoron]

I'm just saying.

[Fuck nicknames, okay?! But with that bit of bristling out of his system, he resumes peacefully delivering ear skritches to a delighted and sleepy doggo, whose eyes keep blinking open ever so often as if to stay awake during this very important conversation.]

What do you want to nickname him, then?

[onebetter]

Uh...

[ That's a good question. James looks at the dog, it's shining supernatural fur colors.... Well, that's not a dog to just name 'Wolfie', probably. ]

Lightning? Lumi? Uh... Cosmo?

[ Yeah, those might not be much better. ]

[marmoron]

[Keith is raising an eyebrow at all of these name choices because none of them seem especially fitting, but it's not his nickname they're deciding on. He gives the pup a gentle poke on the muzzle The wolf glances upwards, giving his head a teeny shake.]

I know none of those are your real name, but do any of them seem alright to you since someone insists on this?

[The wolf headtilts in response. Helpful.]

[onebetter]

He doesn't look... opposed?

[ Why is he trying to read a wolf's body language. Why is this happening. Is this really the one way to appease his dog-crazy roommate? ]

Try calling him by some names individually, I guess. Check reactions.

[marmoron]

Alright.

[Keith scoops up the floofball and sets him down on the ground between them. Time to concentrate, no more comfy nap times. The wolf swishes a long tail, ears perked up and apparently listening.]

How about LIghtning?

[When this seems to only get an indifferent sort of look, Keith continues:]

Lu-- [A pause.] No, that one's dumb. Cosmo?

[After a moment, the wolf scampers over and puts both forepaws on Keith's knees.]

[onebetter]

[ James breathes a silent sigh of relief when the wolf puppy has deemed a name acceptable, because this is going to make explaining the whole situation to just about anyone else a whole lot easier. He'd die if someone asked him what Keith's wolf is called and he had to say the wolf isn't ready to disclose that yet. ]

Cosmo, huh? Well, I did think he looks a bit like the nightsky.

[ That... night sky he and Keith wanted to travel to together as kids. That one. ]

[marmoron]

Cosmo, huh...

[Keith watches the wolf pup fumble to climb up his knee, then laughs as he manages it and balances very precariously with two paws on his shoulders and two on his knees to stick his nose in Keith's hair.]

Woah there. [Lifting him off and putting him down on his lap again. He smiles a little at James.]

It would be neat if he were an alien.

[onebetter]

Fulfilling an old dream, huh...? Would be nice.

[ James smiles, too. It's sweet to see that Keith still shares some of his childhood interests and fascinations. It's also sweet to this adorable puppy all over him. Minor annoyance from earlier now fading, James is feeling pretty good again. ]

Though you might have to worry about more languages than French in this case...